Cause of arrest-PTSD

Orrin McClellan sits in the back of a Humvee in Afghanistan in June 2005. At that time he had been in the combat zone a little more than two months.
Photo courtesy of Orrin McClellan

Man involved in Choochokam brawl suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder
MICHAELA MARX WHEATLEY, Langley, Island County
mmarxwheatley@southwhidbeyrecord.com
Published: July 30, 2008 12:00 AM


LANGLEY — The man who allegedly attacked Langley Police officers during Choochokam Arts suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. And his family says the altercation with police was the result of nearly two years of suffering by a young veteran.

Orrin McClellan, 23, was arrested July 12 after he struggled with officers and threatened to kill them after police tried to stop him from kicking down barricades at the festival site.

“The period between Memorial Day and July 4th was torture for him. He was in Afghanistan,” said Judith Gorman, McClellan’s mother.

“He hasn’t taken off his combat fatigues since Memorial Day,” his mother said.

According to the police report, a Langley officer caught McClellan kicking over barricades at the festival. After a short foot chase, McClellan ambushed officer Corey Mills. A struggle ensued and McClellan yelled at the officer that he would kill him.

He shouted at Mills, saying that he was in the Army and that he was trained to kill people like him, the report said.

When another officer got involved, McClellan allegedly stuck his thumbs in the officers eyes. The officer had to seek medical treatment.

It took several officers to control McClellan.

The young veteran also asked police repeatedly to kill or shoot him, according to court records. Police finally gained control of McClellan and arrested him.
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This could have happened if McClellan was having a flashback. His body may have been at the arts festival, but his mind could have been in Afghanistan.